Container closure structure



Jan. 22, 1957 J O 2,778,562

CONTAINER CLOSURE STRUCTURE Filed April 1, 1953 H INVENTOR 10 James 0.

United States Patent() CONTAINER CLOSURE STRUCTURE James 0. Tilly, Tulsa, Okla. Application April 1, 1953, SerialNo. 346,097

' 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-51 This invention relates to means for sealing containers. In particular, the invention is directed to the sealing of the flaps of containers composed of cardboard or the like.

Cardboard shipping containers are ordinarily sealed by gluing together the inner and outer flaps. As shipping regulations require that at least 50% of the area be glued, the result is that the flaps cannot be pulled apart without destroying the same, so that the container is not useable for a second shipment. It has also been suggested to seal the container by means of gummed tape overlying the joint between the outer flaps, but such necessitates the use of a knife to open the container, and the labor involved in opening the container exceeds any savings which would result in obtaining a container adapted for re-use.

The objects of this invention are to produce a new box construction; to construct a sealing means for a container by reason of which the container can be opened by hand without destroying the flaps; to reinforce the container, particularly adjacent the flaps; and to provide a means for visually indicating whether the container has been opened or tampered with.

In general, these objects are accomplished by inserting a liner between the inner and outer flaps of the container. This liner is composed of a single ply sheet of paper glazed on one surface thereof. Lines of adhesive are placed on the glazed surface of the liner, these lines running parallel to the longitudinal length of the outer-flap. The liner is laid upon the inner flaps with the lines of adhesive united to the inner flaps. The outer flaps are then closed down on top of the liner and adhesively united over approximately 100% of their area to the liner. The closing edges of the outer flaps are cut so that they do not abut, but are spaced anywhere from A; to /5 inch from each other. The box is opened by seizing an end of the liner between the spaced edges of the outer flaps and pulling it upwardly so that the lower free edges of the outer fiaps act as cutting edges, and a strip is torn out of the liner throughout the length of the container. Thus, an opening is provided into which fingers can be inserted, and the outer flaps lifted upwardly. In so being lifted, the lines of adhesive will successively rupture between the liner and the inner flaps, and the outer flap lifted without being mutilated or otherwise injured so as to prevent its re-use. Inasmuch as the liner provides an overall seal between the outer and inner flaps, the tearing of the strip therefrom indicates that the box has been tampered with. This can be emphasized by giving the liner a color distinct from that of the flaps, so that any tampering is quickly detected.

The means by which the objects of the invention are accomplished are described'more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the upper portion of a box with the flaps and liner partially cut away;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the box;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a liner;

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of a modified form of liner, and

Figure 5 is an isometric view illustrating the pulling out of a strip from a liner.

In Figure 1 the box A has outer flaps 2 and 4, and inner flaps 6 and 8. A liner 10 is positioned between the outer and inner flaps.

It is noted that when inner flaps are folded into position, the free ends of flaps 6 and 8 are spaced from each other, this being conventional construction. Furthermore, note Figure 2, in a box constructed according to this invention flaps 2 and 4 are of less width than ordinary so that the free edges 12 and 14 of the outer flaps are spaced from each other anywhere from to /2 inch. The liner 10, note Figure 3, is composed of a single ply paper glazed on one surface. This paper is a 30 to pound paper, preferably about 60 pounds, of inexpensive quality. On the glazed surface are spaced stripes of adhesive 16 which extend from the outer edges toward the center of the liner. These stripes run parallel to the longitudinal length of the outer flaps, and need to extend only as equal to the width of flaps 6 and 8, respectively. The stripes must be placed on the glazed face of the liner, so that the adhesive will not bleed through to the opposite face of the liner. From 22 to 50% of the glazed face of the liner is covered by these stripes of adhesive. Along the center line of the liner a tear strip 20 is indicated by dotted lines, this strip being parallel to the stripes of adhesive. For convenience in grasping the ends of this stripe, slits or notches 22 are preformed in the liner.

A modified form of liner is shown in Figure 4 in which i the only change made is that the tear strip surface is covered by a textile tape 24 or the like, to ensure that this strip will tear out cleanly. Preferably, this tape is about as wide as the space between edges 12 and 14, but it may be wider or smaller all depending upon the strength and tearing quality of the paper used for the liner. In operation, after the container A has been filled with goods, the inner flaps 6 and 8 are first closed down. The stripes of adhesive 16 on the liner are moistened and the liner 10 placed upon flaps 6 and 8 with the stripes of adhesive 16 contacting flaps 6 and 8 and united thereto. The under faces of outer flaps 2 and 4 are then wiped with adhesive over substantially of their surface area, and these flaps then closed down on top of liner 10. The box is then ready for shipment.

To open the box, the end of tear strip 20 is seized with the fingers, this being facilitated by the slits or notches 22, and the strip pulled upwardly. The lower edges of the free ends 12 and 14 of the outer flaps act as shearing edges against which the strip 20 is torn from the body of the liner 10. Strip 20 is pulled completely out and discarded. The fingers of the hand can then be inserted into the hole left between the free edges 12 and 14 of the outer flaps and the free edges of inner flaps 6 and 8. Because the ends of the stripes 16 of adhesive are spaced from each other across the middle of liner 10, an unsecured portion of lid 2, for example, exists, which can be lifted slightly upwardly thus exerting a considerable stress on the first stripe of adhesive nearest free edge 12. This stripe of adhesive which is between the liner and the lower fiap, either 6 or 8, then fractures, and permits the flap to be raised further and causing a greater leverage against the next stripes in succession. Separation takes place between the adhesive stripes and the inner flaps, and flap 2 is lifted without damage to itself or either inner flap 6 or 8. The liner portion remains attached to the upper flap. It is to be noted that very little strength is required to pull the. outer flap loose, and such can be done with the strength of a child. Of course, the other outer fiap can be lifted in a similar manner. The principles by which this is possible lie in the fact that the stripes of adhesive '16 are placed on the glazed surface of the liner 10 so that liner 10 is united to the inner flaps by spaced areas of adhesive, and this adhesive will not bleed through the liner so as to unite with the upper flaps. By the same token, the adhesive which is placed on the inner faces of the outer flap will not bleed through the liner so as to unite directly the outer flaps to the inner flaps. Then, as the stripes 16 of adhesive run parallel to edges 12 and 14 of flaps 2 and 4, respectively, only sufficient force is necessary to break the first line of adhesive stripes in nearest edge 12 or 14 when the flap is lifted, this force being enhanced by the leverage induced as described above.

The use of this liner has other important advantages in addition to the ease of opening of the container. In the first place, it is a single layer which materially reinforces the cover of the container. In the second place, it acts as a seal Within the cover extending over the whole side of the box, so that any breaking in the seal would indicate that the box has been tampered with. In other words, it is substantially impossible to lift flaps 2 and 4 to get access to the interior of the container without mutilating liner 10. This is of great importance in evaluating Whether shipping damages are real or alleged.

When strip 2 1 is torn from the liner, the liner is irrevocably destroyed, and to re-seal the box a new liner must be used. Liner can be made in a color distinct from that of the box so that any tearing of the same will be instantly and readily apparent from an outside inspection of the box.

Other important advantages lie in the fact that ordinary inexpensive adhesives such as starch or water glass may be used to seal the flaps with the container, this meaning that the use of the liner is commercially feasible. Again, if both the top and bottom sides of the container are both sealed with liners, the container when emptied can be reduced to a fiat and stored until reused, new liners being provided when the box is re-erected. Furthermore, the liner it. closes off any openings into the box thus preventing dirt or vermin from entering the box and being carried into markets or homes. Another advantage lies in the fact that less material is required to make the box due to the fact that fiaps 2 and 4 are of less width than ordinary. The saving of this material largely compensates for the material used in liner 10.

While the adhesive stripes 16 have been disclosed as being in contact with inner flaps 6 and 8, it is clear that the liner can be reversed so that the stripes contact the outer flaps, in which case are unglazed surface of the liner would be 100% adhcsively united to the lower flaps.

In Figure 4, the tape 24 has been shown as being on the glazed surface of the paper so that when the strip is pulled upwardly, it will pull the paper in shearing engagement with the free edges 12 and 14 of the flap, and thus tear the strip cleanly from the body of the liner. However, under some circumstances, this tape may be colored and placed on the end glazed upper surface of the liner as an identifying means, thus eliminating the necessity of coloring the entire liner. The use of a textile tape is of value because it is harmless when the boxes are reprocessed into pulp when they have worn out.

Having now described the means by which the objects of the invention are obtained,

I claim:

1. In a box having sets of inner and outer closing flaps, the free facing edges of the inner and outer flaps being spaced from each other, respectively, to form a finger inserting spacc between said flaps when said flaps are in closed position, a single ply liner interposed between said sets of flaps, and closing said finger inserting space, said liner being united to one set of flaps by spaced areas of adhesive distributed in a uniform pattern over substantially the entire interface surface area between said one set of flaps and said liner, said liner being united to the other set of flaps over substantially the entire interface area bctween saidliner and said other set of flaps, and the free facing edges of said outer flaps comprising cutting edges for tearing out the portion of said liner between said free edges of said outer flaps whereby said finger space is opened to permit the manual separation of said sets of flaps,

2. In a box as in claim 1, further comprising a glazed surface on one face of said liner, and said spaced areas of adhesive are on said glazed surface in spaced lines running parallelto said free facing edges of said set of outer flaps.

3. In a box as in claim 2, in which said lines of adhesive cover from 22 to of said glazed surface.

4. In a box as in claim 3, in which said liner is of be tween 30 to pound paper material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,541 Roden Apr. 25, 1916 1,567,165 Noland Dec. 29, 1925 2,063,999 Harrison Dec. 15, 1936 2,281,304 Gillian Apr. 28, 1942 2,322,594 Russell June 22, 1943 2,329,527 Golub Sept. 14, 1943 

